Maryville Children’s Healthcare Center may soon be able to care for additional medically fragile children thanks to legislation sponsored by State Senator John G. Mulroe (D-Chicago). House Bill 763 passed both chambers after receiving final approval from the Senate today.

“This legislation will allow Maryville to expand and assist more children and families in need,” Mulroe said. “This bill passed with bipartisan support. I hope that the governor will sign it as soon as it reaches his desk.”

Maryville Children’s Healthcare Center cares for children that depend on medical technology, such as ventilators, and other medically fragile children. The center trains parents to provide a smooth transition when a child returns home after hospitalization.

The bill will be sent to the governor in the coming weeks for final approval before becoming law.

Last month, State Senator John G. Mulroe (D-Chicago) supported a balanced budget plan that would allow the Illinois Department of Transportation to invest more than $23 million in infrastructure improvements in the 10th Senate District next year. Those projects include congestion mitigation along Interstate 90 and Irving Park Road as well as resurfacing and adding ADA improvements to Higgins Road, Cumberland Ave. and Devon Ave.

“The Illinois Senate passed a balanced budget on May 23 that includes spending cuts, revenue and reforms,” Mulroe said. “Our plan would allow IDOT to implement over $23 million of improvements on time in the 10th Senate District and additional developments across the state. If the budget impasse continues, not only will these investments be delayed, but progress on current construction projects would also be stopped until IDOT has spending authority. Halting construction on job sites comes at a huge cost to taxpayers and would cause thousands of Illinoisans to lose their jobs.”

“We have done our part in the Senate and passed a balanced budget,” Mulroe said. “It’s time to end the budget impasse and stop this destructive cycle.”

For more information on IDOT projects in the 10th Senate district, click here.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator John G. Mulroe (D-Chicago) issued the following statement on the governor’s address on the eve of the special session:

I question the governor’s call for unity and to work together to resolve the budget impasse when he spent the better part of the legislative session attacking the Senate’s efforts to compromise. The governor’s actions are not consistent with his words. Instead of giving speeches, he should be negotiating with the Senate and the House.

The Senate passed a balanced budget on May 23 that mirrors the governor’s spending that he proposed in his budget address in February. Our budget cuts $3 billion, includes revenues that were negotiated with Senate Republicans and many of the reforms the governor has asked for. Yet, he threatened to veto it.

I remain hopeful that the governor will sign a budget and that we can end the impasse.

Legislation sponsored by State Senator John G. Mulroe (D-Chicago) that requires standards for continuing education of probation officers and supervisors to be established was sent to the governor’s desk today. Senate Bill 1343 also requires the Division of Probation Services to broaden access to available training programs.

“Probation officers deal with a variety of situations that are constantly evolving,” Mulroe said. “By requiring the Division of Probation Services to establish continuing education standards for probation officers and supervisors, the officers will be better prepared to deal with the wide range of issues they encounter on the job. I encourage the governor to swiftly sign this bill into law.”